This is a blog about things I should be doing/eating/reading/crafting/learning or not doing. It is a sporadic insight into my mind and life. I can guarantee it WILL be random. It will touch on serious subjects that could include things such as my struggle with PCOS and Endometriosis or my college career. However,more often than not I will discuss the less serious subjects that could include my cats varying sleeping positions to why some people just can't drive.

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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

I've decided I want to do some reviews on products or things women may want to use when TTC. This may be a regular thing or a one time thing. We will just see how it goes. Also, please bear with me as I get the hang of reviewing things. It might not be all official but it will be real.

Before I start this review I want to share that I am in no way getting compensated for my statements in this post (but I'm not opposed to it. Lol).

Today I will be reviewing the Glow Fertility app. As of today it is only available on iOS devices.

This is their logo

This app just launched at the beginning of August. It offers a guarantee that you will get pregnant with this app in 10 months or they will help pay for fertility treatment. Naturally, like any IF sufferer I was immediately skeptical to anything that promises this. I downloaded it and read up on what Glow has to offer.

The Glow app itself is entirely free to download. To get money towards fertility treatment you put $50 a month into a pool of money for 10 months. If by the end of the 10 months you are not pregnant then you and the other couples who started at the same time and also did not become pregnant will split the money. The photo below is how the Glow app explains it in simple terms

This money is not sent to you but rather a Glow approved fertility clinc. In order to qualify for the money at the end you must use the Glow app on a daily basis, pay the $50 every month, and not be pregnant. After I learned more about this feature I thought it could not hurt to try it. Especially since that money would go towards fertility stuff anyways. So I clicked on the "join" button. Before I could be a part of this, I had to answer 3 questions to see if I qualify. I am using my memory to recall the questions since when I filled out the questionnaire I didn't know I'd be writing a review so I didn't jot them down. These are yes or no questions.

1.have you or your partner ever had or been treated for an STD?

2. Have you and your partner been TTC for more than 6 months?

3. Have you or your partner ever been treated by a fertility doctor?

So, I answered the questions and it said there are 192 applications in front of me. I would be notified by email in regards to my acceptance/rejection. I think I'll get rejected since I answered "yes" to question 3.

Next I thought I'd see what else this app has to offer a couple trying to conceive. This app is geared toward the couple not just the woman. If your partner also has iOS device(mine doesn't) then they can download the app as well and you can sync up. Essentially this will keep your partner up to date about what is going on with your body . I like the idea of not having to mention this stuff to DH and he is always in the know (as long as he actually looks at the app). I have not seen if the partner app is any different but I assume it is not too different. Sadly, this is my favorite feature of this app and we can't use it since DH is anti-apple products and I'm pro-apple products.

This app asks the woman the typical questions upon start up. Cycle length? Age? Length TTC? Length of menses? There might be a few more but you get the idea.

The app is visually pleasing. It will tell you the percentage chance of you getting pregnant each day based off your data input. The more data it has, the more accurate the percentage. I also like this feature since it is right there when you open the app. However, I am skeptical about its accuracy.

Below are some screen shots I took of the app.

The pictures below are if the Log area.

The "update period" section lets you adjust your period length with each cycle. It does not allow you to enter flow level on a daily basis. The "did you have sex" section obviously is asking if you had sex. If you select "yes" then it asks position of female during BD and if she orgasmed.

The "performed CM check" section will show bars that you can slide the correct way to represent your CM.

Next comes the precise info area.

If you are experiencing "emotional discomfort" it asks you a very limited options. Clicking "other" does not allow you to type in the emotion.

For the "physical discomfort" section it does not have an area for cramps but says "ovarian pain". It does not allow for severity of pain to be entered for any of the options.

Next is the OPK option. It is either pos or neg. there is not an option for a fertility monitor or the advanced OPKs that give a low/high/peak reading.

Finally there is the BMI ( body mass index) section. You enter your height and weight and it gives you your BMI.

The last button is self explanatory. "I am pregnant".

That is pretty much all the app does. It does not let you input medications or vitamins you are taking. It does not show a chart to track your BBT althoughyou can get one emailed to yourself. It does not ask you what time you took your BBT. It only allows one decimal point value for the BBT. It does not allow note taking. It does not allow you to input spotting.

This app leaves much to be desired. I have not used it a full cycle yet so I don't know if it will tell you if you ovulated based on BBT or an OPK result. Since OPKs cans be wonkey I hope it's not based solely on those.

I will update y'all after I've used it for awhile. Maybe the app creators will give an amazing update and fix the stuff that isn't too great. Or maybe more options will open up for data once I've used it more (I doubt it).

Review of this app is a thumbs down 👎.

This app might be useful for the average woman but not an avid TTCer and IF sufferer like myself.

Personally I prefer the Fertility Friend (FF) app. It allows you to input so many details and analyzes them for you. Plus it has forums and chart comparison. FF offers so much more and then some than Glow.

Hopefully, you found this review useful. Let me know if I need to change or improve in anything.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

This was our second TI with Clomid. I thought for sure this was our time (no clue why).

Today we are meeting up with my mom for her birthday. I so wanted to be able to give her the kind of birthday present you cannot find on the shelf at a store.

My heart is breaking not only because this was a failed cycle but because my mom won't know the joy of finding out today. She is so supportive with us during our struggles and I just wanted to show her it paid off.

I have tears running down my face and I'm all blotchy. I totally look the part to celebrate a birthday... Umm not really.

All I want to do is stay in bed and cry my eyes out.

Today sucks

IF sucks

BFN suck

AF sucks the most

I hope someone in the Bloggie world is having a better day than mine...

Sunday, August 11, 2013

The words on my cap pretty much explain my outlook on not just my education but everything I do.

As a child I dreamed of marrying a wonderful man. I believed in it. And after a speed bump I found him! I achieved!

I dreamed I would go to college. I believed I would graduate. I achieved to my get my diploma.

I have dreamed of having children for more years than I can count. I BELIEVE with my whole self that this will happen. One day I WILL achieve it.

Speaking of, We are currently in our TWW on 4dpo. I am keeping myself distracted with workouts, applying for jobs, and Netflix. So far I only think about the TWW about every 10/15 minutes as opposed to every single second of the day. It is a small progress.

My next dream is a "grown up job". I am terrified I won't get hired but I believe that what is meant to be will happen. Hopefully it will happen sooner rather than later :-)

I might not be completely DONE with school forever but I am done for now. We want to focus on our family right now. I will reassess everything in about 3/5 years.

Thank you for being wonderful readers and being patient with my lack of posting so I could achieve my goal.